Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Bow vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Exeter | Bow | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
8,335Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | Bow High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.